Nick, circa 2005.

Me, eating the brains of the Attractive and Popular drummer.

Zombie Shawna (from Avec, & currently War on Women)Can we pause real quick and just recognize how awesome this guy is? Yup. That’s the 2005 version of me. …pre-lasik. 

Learning how to groom a lamb is part of the curriculum of the 2005 Baltimore County 4-H Lamb Grant Project. Lisa Wheeler, project leader from Whitehall, right, supervises Juliana Buckman while she trims a lamb’s hoof Wednesday June 22, 2005 at Green’s Lamb farm in Whitehall.

The 10am Update is a (somewhat) regular blog feature showcasing some of the better photos from my archives.

Members of the Howard County Police Department Command Staff stand by during a memorial service honoring five fallen officers at the Howard County Police Headquarters Wednesday May 18, 2005.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the better work from my archives.

Mixing liquid nitrogen with boiling soapy water creates an intense, but harmless explosion. A scenic foggy calm ensues, which George Boyer, age 7, is seen playing in. The liquid nitrogen demonstration was part of Johns Hopkins University’s 2nd annual Physics Fair Saturday April 30, 2005, hosted at the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.

This is the image that started my love affair with trying to show the surreal possibilities in a real situations.

The 10 am update is (supposed to be) a regular blog feature showcasing some of the best stuff from my archives.

With tears in his eyes, Matt Porter sits in a squad car under arrest as the suspect in an accidental shooting incident Tuesday September 2, 2003. Porter’s close friend, Rob Brickle, 21, below, a local late night DJ, was taken to the Medical Center of Central Georgia where he later died from his wounds. Porter accidentally shot Brickle in the neck with a .380 handgun. Alcohol and gun horseplay were reportedly involved. Local officials waited for a loved one to join Porter before telling him of Brickle’s death.

The crazy thing was, I thought he was going to pull through. See. He’s moving around. What a bad situation.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the best photos from my archives.

Third, fourth, and fifth graders from Seventh District Elementary School partake in a popular after school skating program Friday February 11, 2005.

Javoke Terrell, a licensed mortician, arranges services for a mamber of the Knights of St. John, one of the oldest Catholic Fraternal organizations Thursday February 3, 2005. Terrell manages the Randallstown Vaughn Greene funeral home, in addition to two other locations.

When I made this frame I was super duper excited. So, I showed it to a photo friend of mine and she was sooooo disappointed with me. She thought this images, which utilized the reflection gimmick, and ignored the emotional gravity of a funeral was disrespectful to the family and the recently deceased. The thing is, she thought I was sent to cover the funeral.   I was like, “but it’s a business feature.”

“Oh, well then i think it’s a mighty fine business feature.” …or she said something to that effect. It was five years ago.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the best work from my archives.

Andrew Nuckolls, age 14, from Towson, catches air from a snow ramp on the side of the Greenwood Board of Education hill during and after snowfall Saturday January 22, 2005.

Coming from Georgia, we usually only got icy rain. So, I was super-stoked when the snow was fluffy. The worst part about shooting in the snow is taking notes. It’s hard enough making camera adjustments with numb fingers, but then having to take off your gloves to fish around in your pocket for your pen, only to find out that A.) the ink’s frozen and B.) your note pad is wet.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the better work from my archives.

The secret to longevity according to centurian Beryl Hartmann, right, a Harmony Hall resident of three years, is dark chocolate. “I’d like to be embalmed in chocolate.” Ms. Hartmann’s friends from the Owen Brown Senior Center threw a birthday bash for her Saturday December 18, 2004.

Can you believe it? 100 years old. I wonder if in 2010 she’s still kickin’ it? She’d be about 105.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the best work from my archives.

A new playground for the abused and neglected children of The Ravens Courage House had an opening ceremony Friday January 20, 2005. For the children’s safety none of them are to be identified in the photo.

So, what do you do when you can’t show faces? — thank your lucky stars for the sun location, balloons, semi-translucent playground equipment and silhouettes. My buddy Patrick Smith did a recent post about how he recently succumbed to the temptations of silhouettes. I totally understand. I’ve recently been on a reflection kick, myself.

The way I see it, a gimmick’s only as good as how well it’s used. In this sense, it’s helping to keep these kids safe, while making a beautiful image, AND celebrates the new playground space.

The 10am Update is a regular blog feature showcasing some of the best work from my archives.